The oil crisis of the 1970s, with high prices imposed by the OPEC countries, showed the fragility of countries due to their great dependence on this resource, which has since led to a search for alternative sources of oil that can meet demands.

In even more recent decades, the world has been faced with a new and even more challenging paradigm: the need to find alternative and renewable sources of energy, not only because of the price of and dependence on fossil fuels, but now because of their burning and the emission of CO₂ into the atmosphere, which contributes significantly to the rise in global temperatures and climate change on the planet.

Within this context, the solar source, and especially solar photovoltaics, has proved to be extremely reliable and a great ally in the fight against climate change, with worldwide installed capacity rising in just over twenty years from 1 GWp in 1999 to over 1 TWp.

The situation in Brazil has been no different. Over the last 30 years, important research and publications have been developed that have supported and continue to contribute to the application of this source on Brazilian soil, especially those developed by INPE, such as the publication of the Brazilian Atlas of Solar Energy, 1st and 2nd editions, which already indicated the excellent solar potential throughout Brazil, especially in the northeast region.

The state of Paraíba, perceptive to these changes, has taken another important step in its rich history by delivering the Paraíba Solarimetric Atlas and its Interactive Web Tool to society in order to promote and disseminate the use of this technology and thus contribute to a cleaner and more renewable energy matrix. The Interactive Tool allows queries and simulations to be made for any location in the state. Access to this information will enable more assertive investments to be made in the state, benefiting both the government and society by generating jobs and income.